Deputy Prime Minister Tanczos Barna announced that Romania, supported by 12 member states, is requesting the European Commission to remove the brown bear from the category of strictly protected species.

The Deputy Prime Minister and interim Minister of Agriculture, Tanczos Barna, stated that the process of removing the brown bear from the category of strictly protected species has successfully begun, with the support of 12 member states.

At the National Forum for the Future of Agriculture, Barna mentioned that he requested experts from Romania to present the real situation of the bear population to the European Commission. He emphasized the need for member states to have flexibility in managing the bear population, considering the specific conditions of each country. Barna called on the European Commission to adapt regulations to allow for more effective management of the species in states with a favorable conservation status.

A recent study showed that Romania has the largest bear population in Europe, with estimates between 10,600 and 12,700 individuals. The conservation project was carried out by 800 specialists and was funded by European funds.